Sink drain water collector

ABSTRACT

Improvements in conservation and collection of water that gray water that normally is washed down a drain is disclosed. The conservation tool is a side pipe or “T” that allows water with minimal or no heavy solids to flow out the side pipe. The side pipe exists above a water trap at a height that is about the top of the trap. Heavy materials will fall straight down the trap but only fairly clear fluids will stay above the trap and flow down the side pipe. The side pipe is connected with a hose to a reservoir holding tank. A valve is manually operable to stop any flow into the reservoir. The reservoir is removable for use to feed plants or grass with the collected gray water.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional 61/253,729 filed Oct. 21, 2009 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in collection and conservation of water. More particularly, the present invention allows for collection of gray water that would normally flow down a drain. A side pipe is attached at or near a drains' trap to allow fairly clean (gray) overflow water to flow into a collection reservoir that can be used to water plants and the like.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

A number of patents have been issued that provide sinks, collection vessels, valves and collapsible bottles. Exemplary examples of patents that have been issued that address some of these components are identified and discussed below. While various pieces are shown, none of them show or describe collecting only the relatively clean a portion flow down a drain.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,456 issued Nov. 24, 1992 to Richard F. Woolman discloses a Diverter Apparatus and method For Saving Fresh Water. This method involves diverting water from a faucet or shower while hot water is filling the line. The water that is being collected is pure drinking water. The conservation is not water that would be undrinkable. While this patent discloses the collection of water that would normally be washed down the drain, the water being collected has no contaminations and is being collected at the supply as opposed to the drain line of a sink. The present application can be used with this patent to provide additional water savings and conservation.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,196 issued Aug. 7, 1973 to Donald William Halferty and U.S. Pat. No. 7,401,286 issued October 28, 2008 to Alice Lenora Parker both disclose Waste Water Holding Systems where all of the water from a drain is collected for later disposal. While these products collect all of the water, the collection is for temporary holding within a container, and due to the solids that are collected within the container the collected fluid is later disposed of or otherwise discarded without conservation.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,392 issued May 19, 1981 to John Hayes discloses a Disposable Plastic Trap Bag. The trap bag again collects all of the fluid that drains from a sink. The predominant item that is collected within the bag is solids or semi-solids that are heavier than water. The solid material collects in the bottom of the bag and the bag is simply removed from the holding bucket for later disposal. While this patent discloses a holding bag, the collected material is not usable for watering or other uses, and mostly contains heavier that water materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,877 issued Apr. 2, 1963 to W. K. Gash, U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,887 issued Feb. 24, 1976 to Thomas J. Scarnato and U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,068 discloses collapsible containers. These collapsible containers are for changing the amount of material or fluid that can be held within the container. While these patents are adjustable to change the amount of volume that is held within the containers, these containers are not intended to change their size (not volume) to match the drain height from a drain and they further lack handles for easy transportation or a check valve to prevent an overflow condition.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,597 issued Apr. 15, 1980 to Ed P. Tomes discloses a Water Recycling with Solids and Foam Removal. While this patent discloses a collection reservoir, the collection is to separate solids and foam from water that is sent down a drain. Any conservation of water is also washed down the drain. This patent is mostly for conservation of the sewage from a house and there is little or no conservation of the water.

What is needed is a collection reservoir that can be installed under most sinks to collect gray water that can later be used to water plants and the like. The proposed application provides this solution with a simple device that simply requires a change to the drain pipe of house, condo or apartment. The change to the drain pipe allows for only fairly clear water to be collect while solids or semi-solids are washed down the drain.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the sink drain water collector to collect relatively clean gray water that would normally be washed down the drain of a sink. Typically the water that is useful for watering plants or for other purposes that does not require the same level of purity often remains above the heavier water that contains contamination and heavier solids. One of the main goals of this water collector is to separate the relatively clean water while letting more contaminated water wash down a drain.

It is an object of the sink drain water collector for the water collector to be relatively simple in construction and installation. The separation of gray water is from the replacement of a sink drain pipe with a similar sink drain pipe having a side T that is connected to a flex drain hose. The location of the side pipe or T is about the same height as the drain line located after the P trap or elbow. This location is ideal for allowing mostly clean and clear gray water to be collected.

It is another object of the sink drain water collector to have a removable storage tank or reservoir. The reservoir is connected to the flexible drain hose. The reservoir allows for both the collection and delivery of the water to plants. Based upon the user preference the volume of the reservoir can be adjustable to change the amount of water that is collected as also the weight of the reservoir that the user can carry to water plants. The height or volume of the reservoir is also adjustable to reduce back washing fluid out of the reservoir.

It is still another object of the sink drain water collector to include a fill shut off valve to eliminate the potential of the reservoir being over filled and pouring excessive amounts of gray water under a cabinet. The shut off valve can also be closed with a user removes the reservoir for watering plants. This allows the sink to still be used when the reservoir is removed.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the sink drain collector.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross sectional view of the drain components.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the reservoir in the extended orientation with the cap installed.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the reservoir with the marking indicia.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the reservoir in the compressed orientation with the cap removed.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the opening of the reservoir.

FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view of the opening of the reservoir.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the filling cap for the reservoir.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the filling cap.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric exploded view of the filling cap that is shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the reservoir.

FIG. 12 shows a top and bottom view of the filler head.

FIG. 13 shows a top and bottom view of the lower cap.

FIG. 14 shows a top and bottom view of the threaded cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the sink drain collector. The sink drain collector can be a direct replacement to the drain plumbing of a standard sink. An existing drain trap is removed and the assembly of components is placed in approximately the same location as the previous trap. An existing sink drain pipe is passed down through coupling fitting 22 and seal 21 where the coupling fitting 22 is threaded 10 into the down pipe 11 that includes a water trap that prevents or traps odors from the sewer from venting up through the drain. The down pipe 11 has a side connection or “T” that is located above the dip 12 of the down pipe. The location of the side pipe or “T” connection 20 will change the amount and type of fluid that is collected or drained from fluid that comes from an attached sink. In the preferred embodiment the location of the side pipe or “T” is about the location of the water flow line 35 (shown in FIG. 2).

Water that would normally flow down the down pipe 11 would pass below the dip 12 and through the trough 13, through the back elbow 15 where the trap is coupled, with a coupling nut 16, to an elbow having a crown 17 and a drain pipe 18 that connects to the sewer or other drains. The threads of a side connection 20, are located is the side of the down pipe for connection with a side pipe or “T”.

The threads 34 of a fitting 33 that has saw toothed edged are threaded into the side of the down pipe 11. A first end 31 of a flexible pipe 30 is secured onto the saw toothed edges of the fitting 33. The saw toothed edged both grip the flexible pipe 30 and seal the flexile pipe 30 to prevent leakage. While saw toothed edges are shown and described in one or more locations in this preferred embodiment other common methods of connecting a flexible or rigid pipes or hoses together are contemplated. The fitting or side connection 33 can have a variable size opening where the opening size is adjustable by altering the side of the flow though hole or orifice. Changing the size of the flow through orifice will also change the height of the water level that is required for water to flow into the flexible tube or pipe 30.

The second end 32 of the flexible pipe 30 is secured to the saw toothed fitting 43 on a water reservoir or tank 50. The tank or reservoir 50 collects gray water that drains from above the trap, through the flexible hose 30 and into the fitting 43. In the preferred embodiment, the tank or reservoir 50 has a handle 41 for easier transportation of the tank or reservoir 50. While a particular handle 41 is shown and described the configuration and existence of the handle is variable. In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir 50 is configured with accordion or expandable pleat 42 type side walls to allow the height size and volume of the reservoir to be adjusted. The adjustment also allows the location of the fitting 43 to be adjustable to reduce the possibility that any collected gray water from back washing into the side pipe or “T” connection 20. A cap or lid 40 allows fluid that flows through the flexible hose 30 to enter the tank or reservoir 50.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross sectional view of the drain components. This cross sectional view shows fluid within the drain pipe and gives approximate locations of the relationship of the fluid level to the drain locations. This embodiment also show the trap with a trap drain 14 and a plug 19 that is useful to clear the drain of heavy objects, jewelry or other objects that may be too heavy to be washed out of the trough 13. As previously described, a sink drain pipe is coupled to the threaded 10 into the down pipe 11. The down pipe 11 has a side connection or “T” that is located above the dip 12 of the down pipe. The location of the side pipe or “T” connection 20 is fixed and prototypes have been made with the location of the side pipe or “T” at various locations relative to the “Over” or drain height 36. The water flow line 35 shows one contemplated height of the side pipe or “T” relative to the flow point of the drain pipe 18. Water that flows down the down pipe 11 pass below the dip 12 and through the trough 13, through the back elbow 15 where the trap is coupled, with a coupling nut 16, to the elbow having a crown 17 and a drain pipe 18 that connects to the sewer or other drains. The fitting 34 threads into the side port or “T” 20 to a flexible hose or pipe that is attached to fitting 33.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the reservoir 50 in the extended orientation with the cap 40 installed. Based upon the user preference the volume of the reservoir 50 can be adjustable by expanding the pleats 45 to change the amount of water that is collected as also the weight of the reservoir 50 that the user can carry, using the handle 41, to water plants. The height or volume of the reservoir 50 is also adjustable to reduce back washing fluid out of the reservoir 50. This figure shows the side marking indicia 44 that notifies the user that the water is not drinkable. The filling cap 40 is shown on the reservoir 50 with the fitting 43 that connects to the flexible hose.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the reservoir with the marking indicia. The indicia shown in this figures is only one contemplated embodiment. Various markings or indicia 44 are contemplated that will notify and warn a user that the water is not for human consumption. It is further contemplated that the reservoir can be colored to provide identification that the water is not drinkable. One contemplated color is purple that is commonly used to identify non-potable or plant water. In this view the top view also shows a carrying handle 41 and a closed cap 51 that seals the reservoir so it will not spill if tipped over.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the reservoir in the compressed orientation with the cap removed to show the fill hole 60. The pleats 45 are all compressed in this figure to make the lowest volume for the reservoir. The number of pleats as well as an absence of all pleats is contemplated to satisfy the function of storing water within the reservoir. Additional details on filling hole are shown and describe with FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the opening of the reservoir. FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view of the opening of the reservoir 50. The fill hole opening 60 of the reservoir 50 has flow guides 61 that are placed on the sides of the fill hole opening 60. These flow guides 61 help channel the water that is being poured out of the reservoir 50 to reduce splashing of the fluid. In the preferred embodiment the flow guides 61 serve the purpose to turn 80, utilizing ears 81 (From FIGS. 8 and 10), when the filler cap 40 is twisted onto the reservoir 50. When the filler cap 40 is inserted onto the reservoir 50 and twisted a quarter turn, openings 48 and 82 align thereby allowing gray water to flow into the reservoir. When the cap 40 is rotated and removed the openings are not aligned and the valve is closed. Angled side threads are located on the sides of the fill hole opening 60 for the cap or lid (not shown) to be threaded onto the reservoir to securely close the opening of the reservoir.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the filling cap for the reservoir. This exploded view show one contemplated embodiment of various components and how the components look and interconnect. FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the filling cap and FIG. 10 shows an isometric exploded view of the filling cap that is shown in FIG. 9.

The head 70 has the saw tooth fitting 43 where the flexible tube is connected (as shown in FIG. 1). The bottom of the head has an extended flange 71. A gasket 72 seals the bottom of the head onto the fill cap 40. The filler cap 40 has an opening 46 located on the upper portion 73 where water flows from the fitting 43 and into the filler cap 40. A gasket recess 42 seals the head onto the top of the filler cap 40. A keeper 74 located on top of the filler cap 40 retains the head on the filler cap. The filler cap 40 has an internal passage from the opening 46 to the exit 48 located on the lower portion 49 of the filler cap. Markings on the filler cap 40 allows the user to open and close the filler cap to open or stop flow into the reservoir. An O-ring or gasket 75 creates a seal between the fill cap 40 (or closed cap 51) and the reservoir. The cap 40 is shown with a plurality of ears 39 on the peripheral circumference of the filler cap. These ears make it easier for a user to grasp open and close the filler cap on the reservoir. While pa particular size, shape and number of ears 39 are shown, a vast number of ears 39, shapes of ears 39 and absence of ears are contemplated.

A lower cap 80 closes the bottom of the lower portion with a ball float 76 that prevents overfilling of the reservoir. When the water level of within the reservoir get too high the water level will lift the ball float 76 within the lower cap 80 and block flow through the lower portion 49 and into the reservoir through the opening 82 in the lower cap 80. A pair of ears 81 on the lower cap 80 allows an operator to tighten or loosen the lower cap 80 on the lower portion 49. The lower cap 80 has a top opening 84 that is secured onto the lower portion 49. Gray water can flow through the top opening 84 and out the bottom opening 85 as long as the flow is not being blocked by the ball float 76. When the cap 40 is removed the float ball 76 will seat in opening 85 (FIG. 10). Lower cap 80 slides over the lower portion 49 and is locked in place thereby giving the float ball 76 a confined chamber to move up and down.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the reservoir 50 where the filling connection 43 can be located on the top, the valve 40 can then be closed and the reservoir set on a side to provide access to the lifting handle 41.

Greater details of these components are shown in FIGS. 9 to 14.

FIG. 12 shows a top and bottom view of the filler head. FIG. 13 shows a top and bottom view of the lower cap. FIG. 14 shows a top and bottom view of the threaded cap. The item numbers are consistent in all these view and the views should be looked at collectively with the written description to better understand how they interact.

Thus, specific embodiments of a sink drain water collector have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. 

1. A drain water collector comprising: a pipe having a side connection configured to connect to a sink drain; said side connection of said pipe is connected to a collection reservoir; said side connection is aligned above at or above a water trap, whereby substantially solids flow past said side connection and substantially liquids flow into said side connection and then into said collection reservoir when a liquid level is at or above said water trap.
 2. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said side connection further includes an operable valve.
 3. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein a height of said collection reservoir is adjustable.
 4. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said side connection is connected to said collection reservoir with a hose.
 5. The drain water collector according to claim 4 wherein said hose is flexible.
 6. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said operable valve has a float valve to stop said substantially liquid from overflowing said reservoir.
 7. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein operable valve is replaceable with a cap.
 8. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said operable valve has a plurality of closed positions.
 9. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said pipe is interchangeable with a sink drain trap pipe.
 10. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir further includes a carrying handle.
 11. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said pipe is made from plastic or metal.
 12. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said operable valve has at least one open position.
 13. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said flexible hose is removable from said reservoir.
 14. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said pipe has a trap drain.
 15. The drain water collector according to claim 14 wherein said trap drain can be opened.
 16. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said drain water collector operates with gravity flow to separate solids from liquids.
 17. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir is at least one quart in volume.
 18. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said side connection has a connection for said pipe.
 19. The drain water collector according to claim 1 wherein said side connection has a variable opening.
 20. The drain water collector according to claim 19 wherein said variable opening is by changing an orifice. 